Mended And Altered

Many objects within museum fashion collections show signs of mending and alterations, but these are not always visible at first glance. Historically, the economic value of clothing and textiles ensured their scrupulous, long-term maintenance, but there are myriad reasons that a garment may have been modified. These include adaptations to keep pace with a newly fashionable silhouette, changes for use in theater or for other types of costume, and upkeep for sentimental reasons.